8 Jobs For People Looking For A Fast Career Change (And Higher Pay)

So, you’ve been having a great weekend and then bang, the Sunday Night Scaries take over - don’t worry, you’re not alone. Lots of people experience that "back to work dread"  - in fact, according to a recent Gallup report,in the past year a whopping 21% of employees worldwide say that they’ve felt a disconnect with not just their jobs but their careers as a whole. If this sounds eerily familiar, don’t worry, we’ve got you - in this article we’re looking at eight jobs that you can switch to without long-lasting career planning.

1. Project Manager

Project Manager? But I don’t have any experience, I hear you cry. No matter - the great news is that there’s a good chance that you already have some of the essential skills for this job under your belt. If you’re the one who’s always in charge of organising social events or you’re a dab hand at managing work, home and household duties then you’re already half-way there. Project management is all about being able to organise (and galvanise) others and, whether you’re in healthcare, tech or a trade, Project Managers are always in demand. Don’t believe us? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there are a staggering 78,000 openings every year - and chances are, one of them will be a great fit for you. Even better, you don’t need any fancy pants qualifications to bag around $100,000 a year in this varied and challenging role.

2. Tech Support Specialist

Phone not working. Laptop won’t boot up. Wifi’s on the blink. Who you gonna call? If you’re the go-to person for friends, family and colleagues when their tech is taking a moment then a switch to Tech Support Specialist may be an easy move for you. These days, most companies live or die by their technology and so most employ dedicated techy problem solvers to make sure that the wheels keep turning.



All you really need here is a grasp of common operating systems and perhaps a basic IT certification which you can gain quickly, easily and affordably online. Once you’ve got your foot in the door as a Tech Support Specialist, you’ll find that a whole world of opportunities will open up - with salaries to match - with options including cybersecurity and software development.

3. Health Services Manager

If you’re currently a nurse you’ll know that you already have a huge bank of knowledge about health services and patient care and this means that you’re perfectly placed to transition into management. Health Services Managers are all about organising and co-ordinating services to ensure that patients are treated effectively and efficiently. Too risky? No BS - The BLS forecast that in the next decade there will be about 62,000 new Health Services Manager roles every year. No wonder an increasing number of MSNs are considering Doctor of Nursing Practice online programs - particularly as these programs are actively giving a come-on to nursing professionals like you.

4. Digital Marketing Specialist

If you’ve got the gift of the gab and relish a challenge, this one’s right up your street. No matter how quickly things evolve and change, there’s not a business in the world that doesn’t need talented staff who are able to get their message across to their audience.



As long as you’ve got even just a bit of marketing muscle behind you, you can pick up online stuff like SEO and Google ads really easily online through tutorials and courses. What’s it worth? Glassdoor reckons that entry-level digital marketing managers can earn as much as $98,000 yearly. Even better, if it turns out you’ve got a knack for getting results, you can supersize this salary fairly easily.

5. User Experience (UX) Designer

A what now? Don’t worry, this is essentially a posh term for somebody who makes it their mission to ensure that websites and apps not only run smoothly but are a positive experience for those using them. While you might need a bit of technical know-how, the most important qualification here is common sense. The User Experience Designer is the guy or gal who identifies clunky websites and sticky apps and then makes them better. How does it work? All you need to do is take a quick UX course online (either on an e-learning site or platforms like YouTube) and you could be on your way to a salary of about $147,000 a year.

6. Data Analyst

A lot of people are intrigued by this title but there’s really no need. Boiled down to the basics, this is simply about reading the message that a bunch of data is telling you and then using that to forecast trends.



A huge number of companies, particularly those in finance and healthcare fields are crying out for great data analysts and that could be you if you’re up for learning some basic stuff using Excel and statistical tools. Data Analysts can reasonably expect to earn around $90,000 per year to start with.

7. Medical Or Health Writer

If you’re currently working in a healthcare field - or have done in the past - you may be “write” for this job. If you can do more than just string a sentence together and are passionate about making health and medical jargon easy to understand, you’ve already got one foot in this job.

Hospitals, clinics and wellbeing brands are always on the lookout for great writers and these roles are often offered on a freelance basis.

8. Human Resources Specialist

Gone are the days when a HR professional was all about handing out application forms and firing people. These days, this is a rich and varied role which often involves liaising with a diverse range of people.. If you’re a people person who loves putting out fires in the workplace in terms of conflict there’s a great job waiting for you. With a salary of about $81,000 a year, all you need is a customer support or communications background and an online HR course under your belt.

The Takeaway

Often we put off a career change or discard the idea completely because we think it’s overly risky, too complicated or involves spending tons of money on getting new qualifications. In reality, it can be delightfully simple to pivot your post to another job or sector and, in many cases, this will cost you next to nothing. So, what are you waiting for?